https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-come-together-to-address-horror-season-20180726-p4ztuf.html
Eels come together to address horror season
Adrian Proszenko26 July 2018 — 8:00pm
Parramatta CEO Bernie Gurr has addressed every Eels player and staffer as the club prepares to undergo one of the most important reviews in its history.
Every employee of the blue and golds came together for a lunch at Rosehill Bowling Club on Wednesday to be briefed on the review and other initiatives the organisation is undertaking. It was a chance for Gurr to introduce chief reviewer Shane McCurry, as well as his offsiders Greg Brentnall and Rob Kerr to the staff. The project is an acknowledgment the Eels need to undergo an overhaul after a diabolical season that has them sitting in last spot on the ladder.
“It’s the first time I’ve been involved in a meeting like that where we got the whole club together, not just the players or just the CEO talking to the staff,” said winger Bevan French.
“Everyone was in the room at once talking about how we are going to turn things around. It will take every single one of us, not just the players.
“It was a good thing to be a part of. It was about our plans moving forward as a club and what projects are under way.
“It’s a bit private, it was about creating a better culture and things like that.
“It was an introduction to some people coming into the club that are going to build a good culture and things like that.
“It wasn’t much football talk. It was just some planning in general.”
It is the first time Gurr has gathered the entire organisation together since a similar gathering when he was first appointed as CEO.
“The logic is to get everyone in the club in one room and totally aligned so that we get better not just in football but non-football issues too,” Gurr said.
“It’s a very good communication to get everyone together periodically.
“The review is just getting started. We will let it run its course and see what comes out of it.
“These are very commonplace in traditional businesses, not just sport, to look at areas where you can improve. This is a normal practice and is very positive, it’s not about saying things aren’t being done well but looking at how we can improve.”
Updates were provided on the construction of the new Western Sydney Stadium, while McCurry also briefly addressed the room to discuss the scope of his review. Every player, along with all football department staff, will be interviewed as part of the project.
“There are lots of bits and pieces going on that I wanted to share with all the players, coaches and admin staff,” Gurr said.
“We had a bit of lunch. It was nice to get together.”
Parramatta boosted their chances of avoiding the wooden spoon with a win against arch rivals Canterbury but will need to step up considerably against their next opponents. They take on a South Sydney side coming off a loss, just a month after conceding 42 points to the Rabbitohs.
On that occasion, Parramatta’s edge defence was badly exposed. Injury will prevent George Jennings from participating in the rematch, resulting in a reshuffle that includes Brad Takairangi coming into the centres and Jarryd Hayne on the wing.
“It wasn’t a very good memory playing them last time,” Takairangi said.
“I don’t think we were on the same page last time, people were going out or staying back [in defence]. Communication is a big one for us
“We saw last week the Tigers did a pretty good job against them so hopefully we can take a leaf out of that book and do a good job.”
French has played predominantly on the wing rather than his preferred fullback spot this season. There will be extra competition to keep his place when Roosters recruit Blake Ferguson arrives next year.
“When you have got such a strong roster there’s always going to be competition for spots. Fergo is only going to add to that when he comes next year,” French said.
“He’s been tremendous for the Roosters this year. I’m quite surprised they didn’t re-sign him."
